Ryan's afternoon call to Akin

8/21/12 9:43 AM EDT

Rep. Paul Ryan called fellow congressman and Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin on Monday afternoon amid growing calls for Akin to bow out after his controversial comments on rape, a source with knowledge of the call confirmed to POLITICO.

The call, first reported by NBC, did not entail Ryan asking Akin to drop out, the source said.

But he echoed the comments Mitt Romney made condemning the comments, as well as those from Senate officials who have said Akin needs to think about the impact of his remarks on the party and other candidates, the source said.